Mowing-machine.



W. E. GILROY. MOWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20. 1906.

Patented July 6, 1909. a sums-sum 1.

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W. E. .GILROY. MOWING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 20, 1906.

Patented July 6, 1909. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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W. E. GILROY. MOWING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION mum NOV. 20, 1906 927,460. Patented July 6, 1909.

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W. E. GILROY.

mowme MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED HOVJO, 1906. I Patented 6,

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WILLIAM E. GILROY, OF UTIGA, NEW YORK.

MOWING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Application filed November 20, 1906. Serial N 0. 344,213.

To all whom "it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM E. G-innor, of Utica, in the county of Oneida, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mowing-h lachines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to certain improvements in mowing machines of the centerdraft type, similar to that shown in patent to Simmons, 610,287, September 6, 1898.

My main object is to mount the finger-bar which supports the reciprocatory knife-bar upon what may be termed a floating vertically movable frame independently of the driving mechanism so that the finger-bar may ride over uneven surfaces and obstructions without afi'ecting in any way the speed of action of the knife-bar or its actuating mechanism. Or in other words, the actuating mechanism is mounted upon the main supporting frame in fixed relation thereto with the single exception of the laterally oscillating driving element for recirn'ocating the knife-bar, which elelnent is lunged in the axis of oscillation of the linger-bar supporting frame, and is therefore adapted to move therewith when the finger-bar is riding over uneven surfaces or obstructions.

A second object, therefore, is to hinge the vertically movable floating frame or fingerbar and the late ally oscillating knife actuating frame in substantially the same axis coincident with the traction wheels and main driving gear separately from the driving gears.

A further object is to actuate the knifebar through the medium of a. laterally movable triangular frame having one of its sides passing through and journaled within one of the axle sections.

Other objects and uses relating to the specific structures of the various mechanisms will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawingsl igure 1 is a side elevation of a center-draft mowing machine of the reciprocating cutter type embodying the various features of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan of substantially onehalf of the machine, showing particularly the main supporting frame and knife-bar thereon, together with the actuating mechanism for reciprocating the knife-bar along the lingerbar. Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through one of the tubular axle sections showing the floating linger-barframe and triangular knife-baractuating frame having one side passing through and journaled within the tubular axle section. Figs. l and 5 are sectional views taken respectively on lines d e, and 55, Fig. 2. Fig. (3 is a horizontal sectional view similar to Fig. 3 of the opposite side of the mowing machine. Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional view through the tubular axle section. Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view partly broken away showing the eccentric and adjacent portions of the triangular frame connected thereto, and also showing the right hand bearing for said triangular frame. Fig. 9 is a top plan partly in section and partly broken away, of the counter shaft at the rear of the eccentric shaft, showing the clutch and portions of the traction wheels in section. Fig. 10 is an end face view of the eccentric showing the adjacent portion of the triangular frame in section.

The main sup iorting frame consists pref erably of (mposite side bars -land parallcl transverse bars 2- which are secured at the ends to the side bars -l by suitable fastening means, as bolts -3- forming a rectangular open frame, said bars having their front ends converging forwardly toward the longitudinal center of the machine for receiving between them a pole lthe latter being in the center-line of draft of the machine. The bars -l and 2 are preferably made of wrought angle-iron to afford lightness and strength. Rigidly secured to the opposite ends of the bars 2- are separate pairs of comparatively short reinforcingbraces or plates 5 and -6--, the brace --5 being held in place by the bolts -2-3--, while the brace 6- is secured to the bars -2 by clamping bolts -7-. The central portion of the main frame is further reinforced by additional cross braces 9-- having their ends secured to; the bars -2- by suitable fastening means, as bolts -10, said braces 5 6- and -9 constituting parts of the main frame.

A pair of separate tubular axle sections 1 l. are secured co-ax'ially in the opposite ends of the main frame and preferably to the bars and (3- by suitable clamping members -12-, which are drawn together against opposite faces of the axle sections and secured to the bars 5- and 6- by bolts 1? These tubular axle sections are comparatively short and are rigidly con nected to and become a part of the main frame, although capable of being removed independently of each other by simply loosening the clamping bolts 13 and permitting the axle sections to be withdrawn endwise. These tubular axle sections project some distance beyond the opposite ends of the frame for receiving and supporting suitable traction wheels 1et which rotate thereon and are held against endwise displacement by screw caps 15 fitting over and upon the threaded outer ends of the tubular axle sections -11.

Journaled upon each tubular axle section is a pair of rock-arms 16 for receiving and supporting one end of vertically swinging frames l7 which extend forwardly and downwardly and support at their front ends a finger-bar -l8 carrying the usual guard fingers. Each vertically swinging element -l7 comprises essentially a thrustbar l9 and a brace -20, the thrustbar 19- being secured to the inner rockarm l6 below its axis and has its forward end secured to, but turnable on a bracket *2l carrying one end of the finger-bar -1S. The thrust-bars -l9 extend downwardly and outwardly from each other from their respective rock-arn'is l(3- and terminate in the brackets 2l which are located just outside of the line of travel of the traction wheels and support suitable ground wheels -S some distance in advance of but at the outside of the line of travel of the traction wheels, leaving a clear intervening space between the ground wheels -8- for the operation of the cutting knives 22. These cutting knives are made up in sections in the usual manner and are secured by: suitable rivets or other fastening means to a knife-bar 23 which is guided in the finger-bar 18-. This knife-bar -23 is connected and adapted to be reciprocated by a laterally oscillating triangular frame composed of side bars -25 26 and an end bar 27- which is passed through one of the tubular axle sections ll-, and therefore, through the center of the adjacent traction wheel 14.

The knife-bar 18 is connected at one end by a universal joint 2S to the apex of the triangular frame composed of bars -25, and 27, the bar -25 extending in the direction of the line of draft just outside of the wheel and has one end removably connected to the outer end of the bar 27 and its front end is provided with opposed clamping aws -SO formlng a socket for receiving the ball, as -8l, of

'a universal joint, which ball is in this instance, secured to the extreme outer end of the knife-bar.

The bar 26- connects the front end of the bar 25* with the inner end of the bar 27 at the inner end of the tubular shaft -ll-. This bar 27-, extends entirely through and beyond the opposite ends of the tubular axle 11 in which it is adapted to oscillate upon a co-axial universal joint or bearing 32 within and near the extreme outer end of the axle section ll. in this particular instance, the rod -27- is provided near its outer end with a ball -33, which is seated in opposed bearings -34- and 35 within the tube -1l the bearing 3st be'ng adjustable to take up wear and is locked in place by the cap -l5- which is screwed upon the adjacent end of the tubular axle section -ll. The opposite or inner end of the rod 2T, or rather of the triangular frame of which the rod 2T forms a part, terminates in the ball -3et which is seated in a socket on the end face of a revolving disk 36, but at one side of its axis of revolution similar to the corresponding connection of the Simmons patent previously referred to although in Fig. 3,the ball and socket is shown directly over the axis. In other words, the angle of the triangular frame at the inner end of the tubular axle section 1l-* is eccentrically connected to the revolving element 3t$ which is coaxial with the tubular axle -1l so that as the disk 36 is revolved, the triangular frame is oscillated in the universal bearing -3 .tand transmits reciprocatory motion from the universal joint 2S to the knife-bar -23. It is now clear that although the triangular actuated frame for the knife-bar has a lateral oscillatory movement, it is also adapted to swing vertically with the thrust-bar l9-, both swinging upon substantially the same axis co-incident with the axis of the traction wheel.

The finger-bar upon which the knife-bar is movable and thrust-bars -19, by which the finger-bar is supported, may be raised and lowered through the medium of a rockshaft l;O having eccentrics :tl connected by chains 2- to suitable clamps lZ-Z on the thrust-bars, said eccentrics being also connected by springs il4: to anchors -l:5 on the main supporting frame, the springs :rving to partially counter-balance the gravity of the finger-ban su porting frame, and thereby facilitate the elevation of said finger-bar-supportii1g frame and parts carried thereby. The rock-shaft Lt0 is operated by suitable levers l6- secured thereto and arranged within easy reaching distance from a seat, as -4-7-, which latter is mounted upon and secured to the main supporting frame.

Secured to the brackets -2i are rearwardly extending parting blades -t8- and upwardly and rearwardly extending grass fingers -44) and secured to the bars -19 are additional grass fingers -50, which incline inwardly and rearwardly from their front ends to throw the top of the mowed grass or hay together between the wheels, in which position it is supported more or less in an upright position, and is therefore, more readily dried out or seasoned than would be possible if the grass were allowed to lie flatwise upon the ground.

The disk 36 is secured to a rotary shaft 5lhaving rigid thereon a pinion -5l'- which meshes with a gear -5i2- on the superposed rotary shaft 53. This latter shaft is provided with a sprocketwheel -5 land is connected by a sprocketchain to a somewhat larger sprocketwheel 56 on the shaft 57 running parallel with, but at the rear of the shafts 51- and 53-, the sprocket'chain 55 being tightened by a suitable idler 58.

The sprocket -56 is preferably loose on the shaft 57- and is provided with a clutch section 58- adapted to be thrown into and out of locking engagement with a companion clutch section 59-- which is rigid on the shaft 57 and constitutes with the section -5S'- an ordinary clutch. This shaft 37-- is mounted in suitable bearings -69 on the main supporting frame and extends from side to side between the wheels, both ends being alike and derives rotary motion from the traction wheels --1athrough the medium of sprocket wheels "61 and --62, and a sprocket-chain -63, each sprocketwheel (31- being secured to and rotating with the adjacent traction-wheel -1 land of somewhat greater diameter than the sprocket -62 which is rigidly secured to the shaft -57-, the sprocketchain -63 being tightened by an adjustable idler -6l.

The shafts -51- and -53- are journaled in suitable bearings upon the cross bars 9 of the main supporting frame and the shaft -57- is also mounted upon the main supporting frame, and therefore always bears a fixed relation thereto inde pendently of the finger-bar and its support ing frame, and also independently of the knife-bar and its actuating frame. The iinger-bar and knife-bar supported thereon are therefore free to rise and fall while traveling over undulating or uneven surfaces or obstructions without in any way affecting the speed of action of the knives, or that of its driving mechanism by reason of the fact that the thrust-bar -19- and its brace -20-, which carries the finger-bar and parts supported thereby, is entirely free and separate from the traction wheels and knifebar-actuating mechanism directly connected thereto, which constitutes one of the essential features of my invention.

The disk -3(i is rotated in the direction indicated by arrow X, and being eccentrically connected to the adjacent end of the triangular knife-bar operating frame at the junction of the bar26 with the bar 27, it is obvious that practically the entire strain of operation of the knife-bar is concentrated on the junction of the disk with said triangular frame, and in order that the disk may withstand the strain it is provided with a reinforcing thrust-bearing -(5- on the side of the bearing -33 opposed to the greatest resistance offered by the, action of the triangular frame which reeiprocates the knife-bar and forms the rigid side of a recess which receives the bearing -3f for the ball 3a. This bearing 35 is preferably split and is held between the rigid reinforcement -65-- and adjustable take-up side 66-, best seen in Fig. 3, the latter being held in place by a clamping screw -67 The thrust-bars -19- which are hinged to the tubular axle-sections -11-- and support at their front ends the finger-bar and parts carried thereby, are both loosely connected to their respective brackets 21- upon which the linger-bars are mounted so as to permit an easy flexing action between the connections of the finger-bars with the thrustbars without straining the frame as either end of the finger-bar is raised and lowered irrespective of the other end in passing over uneven surfaces or obstructimis.

hat I claim is:

1. In a mowing machine of the class described, a main frame having tubular axle sections, wheels 'journaled on the axle sections, a floating frame also journaled upon the axle sections and movable independently of the main frame, a reciprocatory knife-bar mounted on the floating frame, and mechanism for transmitting motion from one of the traction wheels to the knife-bar.

2. In a mowing machine of the class described, a main frame provided with tubular axle sections spaced some distance apart end to end, wheels journaled on the axle sections, a floating frame also journaled upon the axle sections and movable independently of the main frame, a reciprocatory knife-bar mounted on the floating frame, an oscillatory frame connected to the knife bar and having one of its sides passing through one of the tubular axle sections, and mechanism for transmitting motion from one of the traction wheels to the oscillatory frame.

3. In a mowing machine of the class described, a main frame having axle sections, at least one of which is tubular, wheels journaled on the axle sections, a floating frame journaled on said axle sections and movable independently of the main frame,

a reciprocatory knife-barguided on the floatlng frame, an oscillatory frame connected to the knife-bar and having one of its sides supported within and extended through and beyond the ends of said tubular axle section,

and mechanism for transmitting motion from at least one of the traction wheels to the oscillatory frame.

4:. In amowing machine of the class described, a main frame having axle sections, at least one of which is tubular, wheels journaled on the axle sections, a floating frame also journaled on the axle sections and movable independently of the main frame, a reciprocatory knife-bar mounted on the floating frame, an oscillatory frame bar passing entirely through and beyond the opposite ends of the tubular axle section, connections between the opposite ends of said frame-bar and knifebar for actuating the latter, a revolving eccentric co-axial with the axis of the wheels and connected to the inner end of the oscillatory frame-bar, and mechanism for transmitting motion from at least one of the traction wheels to the eccentric.

In a mowing machine of the class described, a main frame and tubular axle sections secured thereto, traction wheels on said tubular sections, a floating finger-bar sup porting frame hinged to the tubular sections, a reciprocatory knife bar, a laterally oscillating triangular frame having one side passing through the tubular axle section and connected to the knife-bar for actuating the same, and mechanism mounted on the main frame sqaarately from the finger bar supporting frame for transmitting motion from one of the traction wheels to the triz'mgular frame.

6. In a mowing machine of the class de scribed, a main frame and traction wheels, a finger-bar a supporting frame therefor hinged in the axis of the wheels and adapted to oscillate vertically, a knife-bar, a triangular frame having one side passing through the axis of the wheel and connected to the knife-bar to actuate the same, said triangular frame being adapted to oscillate later ally and vertically and mechanism actuated by one of the traction wheels for transmitting lateral oscillating movement to said triangular frame, said mechanism being in fixed relation to the main frame and inde pendent of the finger-bar supporting frame.

7. In a thrust cut mowing machine, a main supporting frame, traction wheels, a floating frame hinged to the main frame, a knife-bar slidable on the floating frame, a triangular frame having one of its sides passing through the hub of one of the wheels, a shaft mounted on the main frame independently of the floating frame, means for transmitting rotary motion from one of the traction wheels to said shaft, and additional means for transmitting oscillatory motion from said shaft to the triangular frame.

8 In combination with the main supporting frame and traction wheels of a center draft'thrust cut mowing machine, a floating frame hinged to the main frame and having its swinging axis coincident with that of the traction wheels, a laterally oscillatory frame having one side passing through the hub of one of the wheels, a knife-bar actuated by said oscillating frame, a rotary driven element mounted upon the main frame separately from the floating frame, means for transmitting rotary motion from one of the traction wheels to said rotary element, and additional means for transmitting motion from said element to the oscillating frame.

9. In combination with the main frame and traction wheels of a center draft mowing machine, a knife-bar and floating support therefor hinged to the frame, a vibratory triangular frame having one side passed through the axis of one of the wheels and having its front end connected to the knife bar, a rotary eccentric for vibrating the triangular frame, a shaft mounted on the main frame, means for transmitting motion from the shaft to the eccentric, and additional means separate from the floating support for transmitting rotary motion from one of the traction wheels to said shaft.

10. In a center draft thrust cut mowing machine, a main supporting frame,separate coaxial tubular axial sections secured in opposite ends of the frame, and spaced apart at their meeting ends, traction wheels journaled 011 said axle sections, a floating knifebar support also journaled upon said tubular axle sections, a knife-bar slidable on said floating support, a laterally oscillating tri angular frame having one side passed axially through one of the tubular axial sections and its opposite angle connected to the knife bar, a rotary disk between the inner ends of the axle sections and provided with an eccentric bearing for the adjacent angle of the triangular frame for oscillating the latter, and means mounted on the main supporting frame separately from the floating frame for transmitting motion from one of the traction wheels to the disk.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of November1906.

v YVILLIAM E. GILROY.

lVi tnesses FRANK Owens, '11aonuas .E. onrnmnm. 

